Costa Concordia Captain Defends Himself In First Testimony : The Two-WayFrancesco Schettino said he didn't change the route of the cruise liner to impress a Moldovan dancer he was having an affair with.

"Schettino said: 'I wanted to kill three birds with one stone,' pay homage to the island and a retired commander living there, give passengers another experience and do a favor for the maitre d', who was from Giglio.

"Schettino sat hunched behind a table while prosecutors questioned him at a theater, which has served as a courtroom. He is being tried alone on charges of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship after five other defendants reached plea bargains. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years imprisonment."

Schettino, whose testimony was sprinkled with jokes, also said he did not abandon the ship after it ran aground. Instead, he said, he was thrown into the water.